Arizona Diamondbacks’ Patrick Corbin where he needs to be moving towards season opener

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Two days after it was announced he would throw the first pitch of the 2014 Major League Baseball season, Patrick Corbin took the mound for his second Cactus League start.

The left-hander tossed four innings, allowing two runs on five hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts in the Diamondbacks’ 6-5 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday afternoon at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.

Corbin, who exited the game with a 4-2 lead, gave up one run in the first and one run in the fourth, each time surrendering a two-out base hit.

“I thought I made two quality pitches on the two RBIs they got. I jammed both batters. They just happened to fall in. Those are things that are going to happen…but I walked a couple of guys which led to those situations,” he said.

“You obviously don’t want to give up runs, and I’m out there trying my hardest. But it’s a little easier to go home and sleep knowing that these games don’t really matter. I mean I’m trying to work on some things, but also try to get out and make good pitches. I thought I did that today, just today was their day.”

In between, Corbin retired eight of nine batters, including setting down six in a row at one point, including strikeouts of center fielder Jarrod Dyson, first baseman Eric Hosmer and third baseman Mike Moustakas, the three left-handed hitters in the lineup.

Corbin has now gone four innings in both of his starts.

“Getting stronger. Arm felt great. Came out healthy, so that was good,” he said. “Got my pitch count up a little bit more than I wanted to throw in four innings — obviously wanted to get to the fifth, but I felt like I worked on my changeup a lot today; threw more than I usually do so that was good.”

Corbin is scheduled to make two more starts this spring, lining him up for Opening Day against the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 22.

“Should be plenty to get going for Australia,” he said. “I feel like I’m where I need to be and I’ll be ready for my start there.”